Mail-bag rack.



D. H. BORGMEYER.

MAIL BAG RACK.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 6, 1914.

1,133,61 1 Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

0%. m alg 5 Jr 4% THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D.

DAVID H. BORGMEYER, OF ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI.

MAIL-BAG- RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 39, 1915.

Application filed. May 6, 1914. Serial No. 836,642.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, DAVID E. BORGMEYER, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of St. Charles, in the county of St. Charlesand State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Mail-Bag Racks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to a mail bag rack for supporting open mail bags orpouches while mail is being distributed and placed therein by postalemployees.

One of the objects of the present invention is the production of a mailbag rack that may be folded when not in use, and which includes props orlegs of novel construction.

Another object of the invention is the production of a mail bag rackhaving a main hanger frame and a detachable hanger frame extensionadapted to occupy an extended forward position in front of the mainhanger frame, and adapted to occupy a folded position in which it liesabove the main hanger frame.

The invention also includes certain details of construction which willbe hereinafter described.

Figure I is a topor plan view of my mail bag rack, the middle portion ofthe hanger frame being broken away. Fig. II is a side elevation of theparts shown in Fig. I. Fig. III is a section taken approximately on theline IIIIII, Fig. II. Fig. IV is a fragmentary side elevation, partly insection, showing a portion of the hanger frame extension. Fig. V is avertical section taken approximately on the line VV, Fig. IV.

In the accompanying drawings: A designates a main hanger frame providedwith side bars 1 and hanger rods 2, 3and 4: connecting said side bars.The usual rings or hooks 5, for supporting mail bags, are mounted on thehanger rods. 7

6 designates wall brackets adapted to be secured to the wall of arailway car, each of said wall brackets being provided with abutmentfaces 7 and 8 adapted to be engaged by the main hanger frame when theparts occopy the position seen in full lines Fig. II. The side bars 1engage the abutments 7 and the hanger rod 2 is extended to provideabutments which engage the abutments 8.

The side bars 1 are connected to the wall brackets 6 by pivot members 9located between the abutment 8 and the front end of the hanger frame A.

A hanger frame extension B is provided with arms 10 and a hanger rod 11connecting said arms. The arms 10 are pivotally connected to the hangerrod 4 on the main hanger frame and each arm 10 is formed with a curvedseat 12 which rests on a rod 13 secured to the main hanger frame. Thenthe hanger frame extension B is in service it occupies the position seenin full lines in Fig. II, and when not in use it may be foldedbackwardly to a position where its hanger rod 11 will lie directly abovethe hanger rod 3 as shown by dotted lines. When the hanger frameextension is folded backwardly it does not in any way interfere with theintroduction of mail into the mail bags supported by the hanger rods ofthe main frame.

The means for pivotally and detachably connecting the hanger frameextension B to the main hanger frame preferably comprises spools 14:(Figs. IV and V) secured to the hanger rod 4 and bearing sections 15 atthe inner ends of the arms 10. Each bearing section 15 partiallysurrounds the hanger rod 4 and is secured to an arm 10 by a screw 16 anda dowel pin 17 which interlocks with the arm 10 as seen in Fig. IV. Itwill be noted that the arms 10 are firmly secured to the spools 1s andthat the flanges on the spools prevent said arms from moving laterally.If desired the hanger frame extension B may be disconnected from themain hanger frame by removing the bearing sections 15.

The free end of the pivoted hanger frame A is preferably supported byone or more extensible legs or props, and each of the props I have showncomprises an upper arm 20 pivoted to the hanger frame, a lower arm 21pivoted to a foot piece or floor bracket 22, and a tubular member 23telescoped with both of said pivoted arms 20 and 21. The

foot piece 22 is preferably secured to the floor of the mail car, andthe tubular member 23 is preferably slidably fitted to both arms 20 and21.

24 and 24: designate slots formed in the tubular member 23 forthereception of pins 25 carried by the pivoted arms 20 and 21. The free endportions of the pivoted arms 20 and 21 are united by the member 23 whichforms a very effective brace for the prop structure, and when the partsoccupy the position shown in full lines, Fig. II, the lower end of theupper arm 20 abuts against the lower arm 21 so that the hanger frame isvery firmly supported by the extensible props.

When the mail bag rack is not in use it may be folded to lie close tothe car wall as shown by dotted lines in Fig. II. The first step infolding the rack is to shift the hanger extension B backwardly to aposition where it will overlie the hanger frame A. The parts may then beshifted toward the wall as shown by dotted lines.

26 designates a wall hook adapted to engage the hanger rod 4. when thehanger frame occupies its folded position. While the hanger frame isbeing folded backwardly toward the wall the pivoted arm 20 is carriedupwardly while the lower arm 21 merely turns about the axis of its pivotpin.

During this folding movement the pins 25 carried by the upper arm 20engage the upper end walls of slots 24: and the slidable tube 23 is thenpulled upwardly to the position shown by dotted lines, in which positionit is firmly held by the pins 25 at the extreme ends of the slots 24 and24.

I'claim:

1. A foldable mail bag rack comprising a hanger frame, wall brackets towhich said hanger frame is pivoted, said hanger frame being providedwith abutments adapted to engage said wall brackets when the hangerframe is unfolded, foot pieces adapted to be secured to the floor of acar, and props connecting the free end of said hanger frame to saidfootpieces, each of said props comprising an upper arm pivoted to saidhanger frame, a lower arm pivoted to one of said foot pieces, a tubetelescoped with both of said. arms and means for securing said tube tosaid arms.

2. A mail bag rack comprising a hanger frame, a support to which saidhanger frame is pivoted, and an extensible prop adapted to support thefree end of said frame, said extensible prop including an upper armpivoted to said frame, a pivotally supported lower arm, and a slidablemember uniting said pivoted arms.

3. A foldable mail bag rack comprising a hanger frame, a support towhich said hanger frame is pivoted, and a prop for supporting saidhanger frame, said prop comprising an upper arm pivoted to said hangerframe, a pivotally supported lower arm adapted to abut against saidupper arm, a slidable tube telescoped with both of said arms, and meansfor securing said tube to said arms.

l. A mail bag rack comprising a main hanger frame provided with hangerrods, and a hanger frame extension pivoted to said main hanger frame andprovided with a hanger rod, said hanger frame extension being foldableto a position where it will lie above the main hanger frame.

5. A mail bag rack comprising a main hanger frame providedwith hangerrods, and a hanger frame extension pivoted to one of said hanger rods,said hanger frame extension being adapted to occupy a folded position inwhich it lies above the main hanger frame and to occupy an extendedposition in which it extends forwardly from Z the main hanger frame, andsaid hanger frame extension being provided with a hanger rod adapted tolie above one of the hanger rods on said main hanger frame.

6. A mail bag rack comprising a main hanger frame provided withhangerrods,

spools secured to oneof said hanger rods,

and a hanger frame extension pivotally mounted on said spools, saidhanger frame. extension belng provlded w1th bearing sections fitted tosaid spools, and the said bearing sections being detachably connected tosaid hanger frame extension so as to permit the removal of the latterfrom the main,

hanger frame. 1

7. A mail bag rack comprising a main hanger frame provided with hangerrods, and a foldable hanger frame extension secured to said main hangerframej and pro vided with a hanger rod, said hanger frame extensionbeing adapted to occupy an'unfolded position in which it extendsforwardly from the, main hanger frame and also adapted to be foldedbackwardly from its extended position. 7

DAVID H. BORGMEYER. In the presence off.

FRANK BUnRGns, JOHN BORGMEYER.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissfoner of Patents.

Washington, D. O."

